I am new to this forum but wanted to share my experience with you. I was diagnosed March 31 2016 with a fissure after having went to see a colo rectal specialist. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever thought such things exist but they do.and they are a nightmare.
I spent five months dealing with pain so intense i could not leave the house or walk for that matter more then five mins. without it getting worse. and the pain would last 8-9 hours after a BM. I lost 35 pounds in 10 weeks because i didn't want to eat much as eating meant BM and BM meant pain.
Still, I was so scared of surgery and all I had heard, but looking back I don't know how I lasted as long as I did but I did. Long story short I developed a abcess going into my fifth month, went to see my Dr who basically told me its time. I have to drain it and I went into the surgery the very next morning to have a fistulotomy performed.
That was Aug 3rd. I literally didn't even have time to think about it. I just wish I had done it sooner, all those scary stories I heard, were just that. I had minimal pain day one, a BM would only produce a little burning sensation afterwards that sitting in the tub for five mins cured, and this only lasted four days afterwards.
The hardest part was getting packed twice a day, but not so much pain as discomfort but by the end of the week that was no big deal either. For those of you going thrrough this I can only say, don't wait if it's ruining your life. if the pain is that extreme and it is causing a lot of pain lasting hours, get the surgery!
Don't be like me and wait it out for five months to no avail. I got my life back I am pain free. and have been so since right after the surgery. and all that talk about losing your ability to hold it, well I can only say I have not experienced that at all. I do notice an occasional fart will sneak out without me knowing it. but if that is the price I have to pay to feel human again and not be in pain, it's a small price.
I was lucky, my colo rectal surgeon was one of the best and he took such good care of me. I am forever grateful to him for all he did.
So, for those of you scared and unsure of doing it, I can only tell you from experience, that the surgery works and rids you of the pain!!